On Sunday, Fidesz candidates won in two Budapest municipal elections. In the 8^thdistrict, Botond Sára was elected as Mayor with 63 per cent of the votes. In the 5^thdistrict, Valéria Balla won with 67 per cent. The turnout in both elections was low (23 and 20 per cent respectively).

Népszava’s Judit Kósa explains the landslide victory of Botond Sára in terms of what she calls the uneven playing field in the local media.

The left-wing columnist contends that local public media outlets heavily favoured the Fidesz candidate and waged a propaganda war on his independent opponent, who was supported by the opposition parties. Kósa goes so far as to suggest that the 8^th district municipal election was rigged.

In Magyar Hírlap, Dániel Kacsoh interprets the election results as another proof of the opposition’s decline.

The pro-government columnist contends that just like rural Hungarians, voters in Budapest also stand behind Fidesz’ anti-migration policies, and they also acknowledge the government’s successful economic policies.

Kacsoh concludes by noting that the opposition parties lack vision as well as credibility. If their decline continues, they may become even weaker, Kacsoh suspects.

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